THE KOREAN WAR
ALBERT AUGUSTUS KNAPPENBERGER, JR (1933-2001) ARMY
Albert Augustus Knappenberger, Jr.
Al, known as “Knappy”, was born 29 March 1933 in Apollo, Armstrong County, PA and died 9 February 2001 in Paradise, California. He was drafted into the Army in 1953 and served in Okinawa at the end of the Korean War. He was discharged in 1955 at the rank of Corporal.
ARTHUR D. KNAPPENBERGER, JR (1936-2011) ARMY
Arthur, known as “Ozzie”, was born 27 December 1936 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died 5 September 2011 in Emmaus, Lehigh County, PA. He was an Army veteran who served during the Korean War. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Ozzie was the son of Arthur D. Knappenberger and grandson of William Harrison Knappenberger (1872-1931).
BUDD ZERNIE KNUPPENBURG (1932-2011) ARMY
Budd, known as “Buddy”, was born 25 July 1932 in Michigan and is the grandson of John Preston Knuppenburg (1843-1922) a Civil War veteran, great-great grandson of Philip Adam Knappenberger (1742-1823) an American Revolution veteran, and descended from John Erhard Knappenberger (1704-1776). Budd was a Corporal and served with the Army from 29 August 1949 to 8 March 1957. He served with Company B, 25th Armored Engineering Battalion, 6th Armored Division.
REVEREND CHARLES FRANKLIN KNAPPENBERGER (1932-2018)
Charlie, who was a member of Army Intelligence (ASA) during the Korean War, wrote a letter printed 25 June 2000 in the Philadelphia Inquirer in a section entitled Korea: The Forgotten War. The letter read as follows:
South Korea benefited from the sacrifices of many. First, people need to remember that this was a war, not a “police action.” It began on June 25, 1950, and ended on July 27, 1953, with the signing of an armistice. Second, people need to remember that we who fought in Korea not only saved a nation from communism, but also stifled the flow of communism in the Far East. Third, remember the valiant men and women who gave their lives and those who suffered permanent wounds. Ensuring freedom for oppressed people is very costly. Veterans of Korea will always remember the bitter cold winters in North Korea and the ruthless communist enemies. But, we also will always remember and cherish the comradeship we shared with tent mates, bunker mates and other service personnel we served beside. Some friendships were made that have lasted a lifetime. Because of the efforts of those who fought in the war, South Korea is now a wealthy and affluent nation, a thriving democratic force in Asia. This is the result not of a ‘forgotten war,’ but of dedicated American, South Korean and United Nations troops who helped save South Korea from a communist fate that would have left it in economic ruin, just as North Korea is today.
CLAYTON HAROLD KNAPPENBERGER (1926-2009) MARINES
Harold was born 2 September 1926 in Northampton County, PA and died 20 November 2009 in Lehigh County, PA. He served in World War II in the Navy. He also served in the Korean War in the Artillery as a Sergeant with the Marines. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Clayton H. Knappenberger, Jr. was the son of Clayton Harold Knappenberger (1892-1944) and grandson of Alexander Knappenberger (1846-1928). His great great great grandfather, Johann Henry Knappenberger (1744-1818) fought in the Revolutionary War.
GILBERT R. KNAPPENBERGER (1931-2003) ARMY
Gilbert was born 4 November 1931 in Ohio and died 26 March 2003 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He was the brother of Ronald Henry Knappenberger and Harold Frederick Knappenberger who also served in the Korean War. Gilbert was the great-grandson of Jacob Knappenberger (1814-1898) who fought in the Civil War and the descendant of Conrad Knappenberger (1748-1818) who was a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
HAROLD F. KNAPPENBERGER (1929-2014) AIR FORCE
Harold, known as “Knappy”, was born 26 October 1929 and died 11 April 2014. He served with the Air Force during the Korean War. He was the brother of Ronald Henry Knappenberger and Gilbert R. Knappenberger who also served in the Korean War. Harold was the great-grandson of Jacob Knappenberger (1814-1898) who fought in the Civil War and the descendant of Conrad Knappenberger (1748-1818) who was a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
HAROLD W. KNAPPENBERGER (1928-1985) ARMY
Harold was born 18 February 1928 and died 5 April 1985 in Carbon County, PA. He was the son of Wilson E. Knappenberger (1908-1954) and a descendant of Henry Knappenberger (1744-1818), a veteran of the American Revolution. Harold was an Army Veteran of the Korean War having served with the 109th Engineering Battalion.
HARVEY HAWSE KNUPPENBURG (1919-1962) AIR FORCE
39th Air Rescue Squadron Albatross
Harvey was a pilot for the Air Force from 1953-1955 with the 39th Air Rescue Squadron – ending his career as a Captain. He piloted an Albatross (SA-16) made by the Grumman Company. Harvey was born 27 November 1919 in Spokane, Washington and died 9 June 1962 in Marin County, California. His parents were Darle Hawse Knuppenburg and Sophia Erickson and his grandfather is believed to be Myron N. Knuppenburg who was born 1864 in Pennsylvania.
Harvey’s name is listed as the pilot of a plane that made a rescue in 1954 off Siberia of a Navy plane’s crew after their plane had been shot down by a Russian MIG fighter. The son, Britt M. Mulhollem, of one of the Navy plane’s crew members wrote the following, “My father got the names of all the men in the rescue craft, so he could thank all of them personally later. I do not know if he ever got the opportunity, but if he did not, I would like to do so now, on my father’s behalf (he passed away in 1983) and also for my mother, Mary Mulhollem (who lives in Oceanside, California). We send our sincere thanks to Capt. Knuppenburg’s family for the part he played in rescuing my father, as well as the other crewmembers on that day in 1954.”
Jerry Horn, a fellow member of the 39th Air Rescue Squadron, wrote in June 2003, “As a member of the 39th at Ashiya I was privileged to have flown with Capt. Harvey Knappenberger on several occasions. I left for the states not long after the Captain arrived so our paths crossed only for a short time. I want to assure you that the Captain was very highly respected amongst the enlisted men and a hell of a good pilot. To all the members of the Knappenberger family, thanks for all the generations of your family for all they have given of themselves to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today.”
JAMES CLINTON KNAPPENBERGER (1936-2014) MARINES
James Clinton was born 14 October 1936 in Allentown, Lehigh County and died 10 February 2014 in Lehigh County, PA. He was the son of Clinton Alexander Knappenberger (1915-1984) and grandson of Oliver Monroe Knappenberger (1890). James served as a corporal with the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957 during the Korean War and later was a member of Robert M. Fegely VFW Post 8282 in Breinigsville PA.
JESSE MACKENZIE KNAPENBERGER (1930-1991) ARMY
Limestone Cemetery, Carrollton, Cattaraugus County, New York
Jesse was born 25 September 1930 in Bradford, McKean County, PA and died 21 April 1991 in Meadville, Crawford County, PA. He is buried in Limestone Cemetery, Cattaraugus County, NY. Jesse served in the Army as a Corporal during the Korean War. He is the son of Guy Elmer Knapenberger and grandson of Josiah E. Knappenberger of Clarion County, PA.
RICHARD LEONARD KNAPPENBERGER (1930-2004) NAVY
Richard was born 5 August 1930 in Coopersburg, Lehigh County, PA and died 9 July 2004 in Ft. Collins, Colorado. He was the son of Leonard Alfred Knappenberger (1911-1995) and grandson of Harvey Edgar Knappenberger (1874-1924) and descends from J. Michael Knappenberger through his son Henry Knappenberger (1744-1818) who fought in the Revolutionary War. Richard served in the US Navy during the Korean War and specialized as a submarine sonar operator.
ROBERT A. KNAPPENBERGER (1933-2009) ARMY
Robert was born February 1933 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died 21 November 2009 in Lehigh County, PA. He was a Korean War Army veteran and a member of the Hellertown and Walnutport VFW. Robert was the son of Robert E. Knappenberger and Helen L. Rader. He descends from J. Michel Knappenberger through his son Henry Knappenberger (1744-1818) who fought in the Revolutionary War.
ROBERT CARL KNAPPENBERGER, SR. (1931-2001) ARMY
Robert was born 30 September 1930 in Lehigh County, PA and died 7 August 2001 in Newark, Delaware. He was the son of Dr. Fred Charles Knappenberger and Hilda [Flory] Knappenberger and a descendant of Henry Knappenberger (1744-1818), a veteran of the American Revolution. He was an Army Veteran of the Korean War.
RONALD HENRY. KNAPPENBERGER (1934-2003) ARMY
Ronald was born 3 January 1934 in Canton, Stark County, Ohio and died 16 March 2003 in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. He was a Korean War army veteran and was a member of the VFW Post #693. He was the brother of Harold Frederick Knappenberger and Gilbert R. Knappenberger who also served in the Korean War. Known as “Knapp”, he was the great-grandson of Jacob Knappenberger (1814-1898) who fought in the Civil War and the descendant of Conrad Knappenberger (1748-1818) who was a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
WILLIAM F. KNAPPENBERGER (1934-2010) ARMY
William was born 1934 in Limeport, PA and died 8 November 2010 in Coopersburg, Lehigh County, PA. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was the son of William J.B. Knappenberger (1904-1966) and grandson of William Harrison Knappenberger (1872-1931).